Report links Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman to doping ring

An Al Jazeera investigative report that alleges an Indianapolis anti-aging clinic supplied Peyton Manning with human growth hormone, also includes the names of three major league players.

According to the Huffington Post, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman and free-agent catcher Taylor Teagarden obtained performance-enhancing drugs from the Guyer Institute in Indiana. The pharmacist, a man named Charlie Sly, says the clinic mailed HGH and other drugs to several athletes, including the three mentioned MLB players, in 2011.

The report, titled “The Dark Side,” was the result of an investigation in which British hurdler Liam Collins went undercover in an attempt to expose the widespread nature of performance-enhancing drugs globally.

The headliner in the report is obviously Manning, The report alleges the clinic sent growth hormone and other drugs to Ashley Manning, Manning’s wife, to help Manning recover from 2011 neck surgery. But the inclusion of the three MLB players is notable as well.

Of note, Howard, then 32, suffered a torn Achilles on the final out of the 2011 NLDS. That would put his recovery timeline in line with that of Manning's. Zimmerman, 31, has dealt with a barrage of injuries over the years, including to his wrist and shoulder. Those ailments date back to 2011, putting his recovery time on the same track as well. That could lend some credence to their names showing up on documents around the same time as Manning's.

In the report, it says Howard and Zimmerman denied using the drugs when approached by Al Jazeera. Their attorney, William Burck of Quinn Emanuel, has also released a statement calling the claims made by Al Jazeera extraordinarily reckless and completely false.

“It’s inexcusable and irresponsible that Al Jazeera would provide a platform and broadcast outright lies about Mr. Howard and Mr. Zimmerman. The extraordinarily reckless claims made against our clients in this report are completely false and rely on a source who has already recanted his claims. We will go to court to hold Al Jazeera and other responsible parties accountable for smearing our clients’ good names.”

As for Taylor Teagarden, who most recently spent time with the Chicago Cubs during the 2015 season, the report says he appeared in one of the undercover videos and openly discussed his use of performance-enhancing drugs during a prior season. Assuming that video is part of the report set to air on Sunday, that would make it impossible to deny.

As for where the league might stand, it's difficult to say at this point until more information is available. MLB did implement expanded testing for human growth hormone during the 2013 season, including random and unannounced in-season blood tests and baseline testosterone readings that are used to detect the use of synthetic testosterone. These allegations predate that expanded testing, though if proven true, Howard, Zimmerman and Teagarden could be subject to the 80-game suspension given to the first-time offenders of MLB’s drug policy

Obviously we're in the very early stages of a potentially drawn out controversy, so it will be worth paying attention to the full report on Sunday and to get a better understanding of its potential staying power and seriousness.